Modern Classics: Mazda MX-6, 1988-1997

1995 Mazda MX-6. Click image to enlarge

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By Jeff Burry

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Mazda MX-6, 1988-1997

First introduced for the 1988 model year, the Mazda MX-6 was a front-wheel drive coupe that was mechanically very similar to the Mazda 626 and the Ford Probe. All three vehicles were built by AutoAlliance in Flat Rock, Michigan for the North American market.

The first generation MX-6 was produced from 1988 to 1992. Based upon the Mazda GD platform, it was powered by the four-cylinder Mazda F2 engine. Transmission choices came in either a four-speed automatic with overdrive, or a five-speed manual. While the base engine produced only 120 horsepower, a much more robust turbocharged version produced 145 horsepower.

1990 Mazda MX-6. Click image to enlarge

The North American market saw four trim levels being available – DX, LX, LE and the GT. The DX was a bare-bones model offering few creature comforts, except for air conditioning as an option. The LX model provided the owner with some power options (ie. windows, locks and mirrors) and an optional moonroof.

The LE version, meaning “Leather Equipped,” provided leather seating surfaces and a leather shift knob for manual transmission cars while the GT version sported all the options from the LX model coupled with a 2.2-litre turbocharged, intercooled engine, producing 145 horsepower. The turbocharged model was known for its prodigious torque-steer. Optional equipment for the GT model also included four-wheel disc brakes and a three-way electronically adjustable suspension.

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